upstART 2018 – Opening & Announcement of Awards Recipients

Thursday, November 29, 2018

The region’s foremost annual youth art exhibition upstART 2018 was opened last Saturday 24 November at 2.30pm by Cr Bill West, Mayor, Cowra Shire Council. It was an enjoyable afternoon with many of the winners present to receive their award in front of family and friends.

The upstART 2018 exhibition is an impressive showcase of artworks by talented young artists’ in years 10, 11 & 12 from nine high schools and provides a wonderful opportunity for each participant to have their work presented in a regional public gallery. There are a diverse range subjects, styles and mediums that feature in the exhibition including painting, sculpture, drawing, ceramics, mixed media and photography.

This year there are over 80 artworks on display by students from the region. The participating schools are Boorowa Central School, Cowra High School, Dubbo School of Distance Education, Hennessy Catholic College, Kinross Wolaroi School, Molong Central School, Parkes High School, St Raphael’s Catholic School and The Henry Lawson High School.

This is the 15th year the Cowra Regional Art Gallery has presented this youth art event with the generous assistance by art teachers from the participating high schools as well as the support of sponsors Eckersley’s Art and Craft, Webster Optometrists, The Vineyard Motel, Yellow House Cowra, in-kind sponsor LT131 Pizza and community donors the Friends of the Gallery and the Cowra Art Group Inc and, private donor Mrs Margaret Henley.

This year’s judge, Merry Brice, independent curator, art educator and artist was very impressed by the creativity and high standard of works on show and took several hours of deliberation to arrive at her selections.

This is a “must-see” exhibition and visitors will be delighted by the showcase of vibrant and interesting artworks on display. Visitors are also invited to vote for their favourite work and at the end of the exhibition the students whose work has the most votes will receive the People’s Choice Award.